The Olympian Sisters #2 The Great War

Chapter 19

HAMBURG GERMANY NOVEMBER 1916 "MAJESTIC"

After 2 years at dockside, I was getting a little antsy. I'd never been out to see before as my maiden voyage was delayed due to the war. But I was preparing to make a break for it now.

My sister, Imperator and cousin, Columbus were fast asleep beside me. I had enough fuel for about 400 miles or a single maintenance run.

With the rest of the fleet bottled up in Berlin, my sisters and I were the only ships here, and they were asleep. I wouldn't get another perfect opportunity like this one.

Timing the swell, I picked up the slack on my mooring lines, pulling them taut and let the current do the work for me.

Once I was free, I fired up my engines and made a run for it. Moving way beyond my designated top speed at 28 knots, I quickly left Hamburg behind and was in the English Channel.

"Yes!" I shrieked. Before I could enjoy my freedom however, I spotted a large ship on the horizon.

She flew the British flag and her white hull and golden smokestacks identified her as a hospital ship. She saw me and changed course in my direction. "Identify yourself." She called in what I recognized as universal Shiptongue, English that is.

"My name is Bismarck." I replied, my German accent heavy as I was still learning the language. "What are you doing here?" She asked, halting just 20 feet from me.

"I'd like to see you lay dockside for 2 years." I growled. "You have no captain." She noticed. "No, I've never been given one." I said. She frowned.

"You mean, you've never had a maiden voyage?" She asked. "I would've, had it not been for this bloody war." I growled.

"The war has taken a lot from everybody." She said. "Well we can agree on one thing." I muttered.

The hospital ship sighed. "Come on, I'll escort you home." She said. I knew better than to argue and allowed her to move up close alongside me.

"Which port?" She asked. "Hamburg." I replied. She nodded and we proceeded in silence.

"You a passenger liner?" She asked, breaking it. I nodded. "I would've been. My sisters, Imperator and Vaterland have already seen passenger service. I snuck out of port when they weren't watching." I said. "You?" She shrugged.

"I've got 2 sisters as well. One's already sunk and the other is serving as a troop transport in Canada." I nodded.

"I'm sorry." I said. "It's ok. Olympic's a strong ship, she'll survive. And Titanic never saw the horrors this war brings. You're lucky you still have your sisters with you." She answered. I nodded.

"You ever see passenger service?" I asked. She shook her head. "No." She replied. "Do you think you ever will?" I asked.

"As long as I follow the rules, I hope so." She replied. She slowed as we approached Hamburg. "This is as far as I go. You are on your own from here." She said. "Thank you." I murmured. "Britannic, my name is Britannic." She said. I dipped my head.

She turned to leave. "Britannic?" I called. She paused. "Stay safe out there, all right?" I said. She nodded.

"I will. And no more runs into the English Channel. Not all ships are as kind to intruders as I am." She said. "I understand." I replied. She left.

As I docked beside my still sleeping sisters, I realized how similar I was to Britannic. The hospital ship was also the youngest of a trio.

She'd never seen passenger service. But unlike me, she had already lost one sister and was separated from the other by miles of unforgiving, submarine infested ocean.

I looked at sleeping companions and knew Britannic was right. I was lucky, so many weren't. But I began to wonder if it was really luck at all that we were still here? Or was it simply injustice and inequality?

Yet again, I was forced to ask myself the question "Where do my loyalties lie?" At one time, I might've answered "Germany!" without hesitation.

Now, I wasn't so sure.